A medicine for diabetes has been found, according to its creators, a promising result also against obesity, especially compared with orlistat. However, there are some questionable and more research is needed long term. Therefore, we must be prudent, perhaps even a bit skeptical.
The epidemic of obesity in developed societies suffer health problems that entails has triggered the search for pharmacological solutions almost desperate. So far, the results are only modest: the drugs are expensive, provide a little weight reduction, side effects and, if treatment is stopped, lost weight is regained. The liraglutide try to change this picture, but do not know if it will.
Preliminary research, led by Arne Astrup of the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), and let us not forget sponsored by the company-manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, has been recently published in the online edition of the prestigious Lancet. Was conducted on 564 people in 19 locations throughout Europe. In just under five months (20 weeks), subjected them to a low calorie diet, exercise, and taking in three different groups of liraglutide (in different doses), orlistat or a placebo.
The results, according to investigators, moving to optimism, as the study drug achieved a greater weight loss than orlistat: from 4.8 to 7.2 kilos for liraglutide (depending on dose) compared to 4.1 orlistat and 2.8 for placebo. At higher doses, 76% of participants lost more than 5% of its weight, and almost 30% of them lost 10%. Keep in mind that the experts agree that losing weight by 5% implies a drastic reduction of cardiovascular risk.
So far, the good news, however, we must take into account a number of issues that motivate reflection and color above. First, more comprehensive studies are needed long term, as acknowledged by the researchers themselves. In addition, side effects (nausea and vomiting, basically), although mild and transient, were very common.
On the other hand, if we analyze the results with a critical eye, and considering, at least in a first approximation, reduced weight 2.8 kilos would be subtracted due to diet and exercise (reduction obtained by the placebo group) The actual results attributable to the fall in February liraglutide and 4.4 kilos, depending on the dose.
These results, although they are clearly better than with orlistat (which is limited to a meager 1.3 kilos) are still not spectacular, and even more if we consider that, predictably, on leaving the treatment would recover the lost, as with other drugs. Finally, the method of administration, injection may create complications and discomfort. We must also clarify that some experts, such as George A. Bray, show little surprised by the result of orlistat in the research discussed, much less than others.
We could conclude that, while liraglutide is not far from the solution to the problem, it could be an important advance, provided that these results are not invalidated by later research or for clinical practice, as has happened with other drugs that had to be removed from the market. Out obesity is an objective of such importance that any progress, however small, is welcome.
Source: www.adelgazar.net/n09123-liraglutida-contra-obesidad.htm
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